About Lab. Chardonnay Oak
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Price Range
- ¥3,300
- 750ml, tax included
- Alcohol
- 13%
Lab. Chardonnay Oak is an experimental, ultra-limited bottling from Northern Alps Vineyard's small-batch 'Lab' series, made from Chardonnay grown in Omachi City, Nagano, at the foot of the Northern Japan Alps. The wine is fermented and aged entirely in 100% new oak barrels, using a mix mainly of VL1 cultured yeast with roughly one-third wild (indigenous) yeast, then aged in barrel for about 10 months. Only two barrels were produced, making it one of the winery's rarest releases: a rich, textured Chardonnay with pronounced oak character layered over the mineral-driven fruit typical of the estate's high-elevation (760-790m) alluvial fan vineyards.
With only two barrels ever made, Lab. Chardonnay Oak is Northern Alps Vineyard's boldest statement on what Omachi Chardonnay can become under full new-oak treatment — a must-try for anyone curious about Japan's emerging domaine-style Chardonnay.
New to wine?
A bold, oak-forward Chardonnay for those who enjoy a rich, buttery style rather than a light, crisp one.
Food Pairings
The rich oak character and full body pair well with roasted chicken, cream-based pasta, grilled scallops, and semi-hard cheeses such as Comte or Gruyere.
When to drink it
Special occasions and small tastings — an ultra-limited release worth seeking out for Chardonnay and oak-aged white wine enthusiasts.
Terroir & Winemaking
Fermented and aged in 100% new oak barrels for approximately 10 months. Yeast: mainly cultured VL1 with roughly one-third indigenous (wild) yeast. Extremely limited production of only two barrels. Grapes grown in Omachi City, Nagano at 760-790m elevation. Sulfites added.
About the producer
Northern Alps VineyardDomaine-style winery farming the Northern Alps foothills solo.大町市, 長野県 · Founded 2013Visit the producer page →More wines from Northern Alps Vineyard
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape variety is Lab. Chardonnay Oak made from?
- It is a 100% Chardonnay wine, grown at Northern Alps Vineyard's own vineyards in Omachi City, Nagano.
- What does 'Lab.' in the name mean?
- 'Lab.' refers to Northern Alps Vineyard's small-batch experimental series, where the winery trials techniques such as full new-oak fermentation and aging on a very limited scale.
- How was this wine fermented and aged?
- It was fermented and aged entirely in 100% new oak barrels for about 10 months, using mainly cultured VL1 yeast blended with roughly one-third wild yeast.
- How much of this wine was produced?
- Production was extremely limited to just two barrels, making it one of the rarest bottlings from Northern Alps Vineyard.
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